President Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection bid, calling him “Strong, Brave, and Brilliant” in a letter posted to Truth Social addressed directly to the people of Israel.
Trump warned that if Israel elects anyone other than Netanyahu, the United States will be left to confront Iran on its own.
“Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51 year old chant, ‘Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan,'” Trump wrote. “What Country can survive when things such as this are allowed to be said, because eventually, they always end up being true?”
Trump said it was only ever “a question of time” before Iran acted on that rhetoric, but argued the regime has instead been “systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially.” He added a warning of his own: “unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job.”
He was explicit about what a Netanyahu loss would mean for American involvement.
“If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so. Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself.”
Trump praised Netanyahu for enduring pressure that he said would have broken other leaders, writing that Netanyahu instead “thrived” and grew stronger under it. He said that kind of partner is exactly “what the United States of America is demanding of Israel.”
Trump closed the letter with an unambiguous statement of support: “Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming Race for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Israel. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The endorsement follows earlier remarks from Trump to reporters in which he said he had not “thought about it” but “may endorse somebody” in the upcoming Israeli elections.
